Pressure actuated packer and anchor assembly



May 9, 1967 c. c. BROWN 3,318,334

PRESSURE ACTUATED PACKER AND ANCHOR ASSEMBLY Filed Nov. 23, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 y 967 c. c. BROWN 3,318,384

PRESSURE ACTUATED PACKER AND ANCHOR ASSEMBLY Filed Nov. 23, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 PRESSURE ACTUATED PACKER AND ANCHOR ASSEMBLY Filed Nov. 23, 1964 C- C. BROWN May 9, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 w 10 C/CE'EO BROWN INVENTOR ATToB/YEYS PRESSURE ACTUATED PACKER AND ANCHOR ASSEMBLY C. C. BROWN May 9, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov GIC'ERO 6. BROWN ZZZ. 16 INVENTOR BY y- ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,318,384 PRESSURE ACTUATED PACKER AND ANCHOR ASSEMBLY Cicero C. Brown, 8490 Katy Road, Houston, Tex. 77024 Filed Nov. 23, 1964, Ser. No. 413,002 14 Claims. (Cl. 166-120) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in well tools and relates particularly to a retrievable packer or anchor apparatus adapted to be set in well casings or similar conduits disposed within well bores.

Prior to the present invention similar apparatus has been used in which a well packer anchor has been anchored in a well casing by pressure within the tubing string and subsequently released for removal from the well casing by rotation of the tubing or pipe string to which it is attached. The prior devices, although at least partially set by the pressure, rely on the weight of the tubing and movement necessary to apply such weight for the complete setting of the apparatus. Further, these prior devices when used as a retrievable packer provide an upper sealing assembly, a gripping assembly and a lower sealing assembly with the gripping assembly positioned between the upper and lower sealing assemblies, and do not include any provision for a bypass around the sealing assemblies during the initial stages of release of the device.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved well packer or anchor apparatus capable of being anchored in a well pipe, such as a casing, against longitudinal movement in both directions and being so constructed that it may be positively released from set position to permit it to be removed and retrieved whenever desired.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a well packer or anchor apparatus adapted to be anchored in a well casing against both up and down movement which is preferably completely set by pressure within the tubing or pipe string to which it is attached and which may be subsequently released by rotation of such tubing or pipe string.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a well packer or anchor apparatus of the character described, in which spaced assemblies are associated with an anchoring means, which assemblies and anchoring means are adapted to be set and anchored within a well pipe by means of fluid pressure and are releasable by a rotation of the tubing or other string connected to the apparatus; the construction being such that a positive force is applied to the anchoring means during the releasing operation to assure release of said assemblies from their set and anchored position.

Another object is to provide a well packer apparatus wherein a sealing assembly, which is adapted to seal in a well pipe against pressure in both directions, is positioned at one end of the device; and an anchoring assembly is positioned in connecting relationship between the sealing assembly and the pressure actuated means whereby upon actuation of the pressure actuating means, the anchoring assembly transmits the movement of the pressure actuated means to said sealing assembly until such time as said sealing assembly is completely set and thereafter a releasable means releases said anchoring assembly whereby continued movement of said pressure actuating means sets said anchoring assembly into pipe gripping position.

A further object is to provide a well packer or anchor apparatus which has means for anchoring it in a well against movement in both directions, which is simple and compact in construction, which is moved to set position by hydraulic pressure, which requires no auxiliary hold-down gripping member, which is provided with a pressure actuated mechanical means having relatively low friction, which maintains the apparatus in set and anchored position whereby the pressure which affects the setting may be subsequently relieved and yet the apparatus will be maintained in such set and anchored position, and which is releasable by rotation of the tubing or other strings supporting the apparatus; the component parts of the apparatus are provided with a breech-lock connection positively preventing rotation between such parts during the rotational release of the apparatus from its set and anchored position.

A further object is to provide a well packer apparatus wherein the sealing elements of the sealing assembly are constructed and arranged so that upon being moved into set position, each sealing element will function in the manner of a sealing cup whereby any pressure tending to flow past the assembly will act upon the element to move it into tighter sealing position and whereby a bypass is provided around the sealing assembly during initial release allowing pressure to bypass during release whereby the sealing elements may be readily removed to their unset position.

The construction designed to carry out the invention will be described hereinafter, together with other features thereof.

The invention will be readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, wherein an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section of a well packer and anchor apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention and showing the same in its unset position as it is run into the well bore;

FIGURE 2 is a similar view showing the apparatus with its packing element in set position and its anchoring element in unset position;

FIGURE 3 is a similar view illustrating the position of the parts of the apparatus after it has had its sealing assembly set and a portion of its anchoring assembly set;

FIGURE 4 is a similar piew illustrating the position of the parts of the apparatus in its set and anchored position;

FIGURE 5 is a similar view illustrating the position of the parts of the apparatus after it has been released;

FIGURE 6 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken along lines 6-6 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 7 is a horizontal cross-sectional View similar to FIGURE 8 illustrating the relationship of parts in the breech-lock assembly before the assembly is locked in position;

FIGURE 8 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken along lines 8-8 of FIGURE 5 illustrating the breech-lock assembly in its final locked position;

FIGURE 9 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along lines 9-9 in FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 10 is another partial cross-sectional view similar to FIGURE 9 taken along lines 10-10 in FIG- URE 8;

FIGURE 11 is an elevation view of the key element of the breech-locking assembly;

FIGURE 12 is a perspective view of the plug of the breech-lock assembly;

FIGURE 13 is a perspective view of the cage of the breech-lock assembly;

FIGURE 14 is a perspective view of the key used in the breech-lock assembly of the present invention;

FIGURE 15 is a perspective view illustrating the relative position of the plug within the cage in the breech-lock assembly; and

FIGURE 16 is a perspective view of the completed breech-lock assembly with a portion of the cage broken erally indicated at D. The anchoring assembly B is located between the sealing assembly A and the pressure actuated means YD. Actuation of the pressure actuated means D eifects the setting of the sealing assembly A into sealing position and thereafter eflfects a setting of the anchoring assembly B into set or pipe gripping position. When-in set position, the apparatus will be anchored against movement in either direction within a well casing or pipe P which is disposed in a well bore.

Referring specifically to FIGURE 1, the upper mandrel a is coupled by means of the usual coupling collar 11 to the well tu'bing string (notshown) whereby said string is utilized to lower and raise the apparatus-within the well casing or pipe P. The mandrel 10a has its lower end internally threaded with relatively coarse left-hand threads 12 and which interengage with the complementary threads 13 formed on the exterior of lower mandrel 10b. Mandrel 105 extends downwardly through the remainder of the device and may be provided at its lower end with a usual coupling (not shown) or any other suitable connection to the lower portion of the :tubing string (not shown). A

suitable seal, such as O-ring14, is provided between the upper exterior of lower-mandrel 10b and the engaging interior portion of upper mandrel 10a.

Upper abutment 15 is positioned in surrounding relation to the upper portion ofmandrel 10a and is held in position by the snap rings 16 and 17 which are positioned in grooves in the exterior of the mandrel 10a. surrounds mandrel 10a in abutting relation to the upper abutment 15 and is supported from below by the external shoulder 19 on the exterior of upper mandrel 10a. As

shown in' FIGURE 1, the sleeve 20 surrounds upper mandrel 10a and is positioned having its upper end in engagement with the lower exterior surface of the bearing 18 and suita'bly sealed as by O-ring 21. The lower end of sleeve 20 projects inwardly into engagement wth the outer surface of upper-mandrel 10a above the lower shoulder 22,

and. such' inwardly projecting portion is provided with a Bearing 18 plurality of ports 23. It should 'be noted that sleeve 20 i is positioned in surrounding relationship to the upper mandrel 10a in space relationship thereto for the reasons as hereinafter more fully set forth in the description of-the release of the apparatus.

Sealing assembly is mounted on and encircles the sleeve 20. The plug 24 and the cage 25 are interengaged in locking position, as hereinafter more fully explained, and are secured to the sleeve 20 by the ring 26' which is positioned in a groove on the exterior of the sleeve 20. Seal 27 provides a seal betweenthe linterior of cage 25 and the exterior of sleeve 20. The lower surface 28 of the cage 25 abuts upper seal element 29. The sealing assembly A includes the upper seal element 29, thelower seal element 30 and the outwardly tapered seal follower 31.

The upper surface 32 on cage 33 abuts the lower sur- 1 face of lower seal element 30 and is interconnected by the breech-lock connection, hereinafter more fully explained, with upper expander 34'. When the components of the device are positioned for running, as shown in FIGURE 1, cage 33'will be supported by the external shoulder 35 on sleeve 20. Seal 36, such as an O-ring,

will provide a seal between the interior of cage 33 and the exterior surface of sleeve 20. Upper expander 34 is providedwith a plurality; of ports 37 positioned immediately'below the cage 33.

The snap ring 38 is positioned in a groove on the exterior of sleeve 20 and engages the interior of seal follower member 31 to provide support for the seal follower member when the device is in the unset position.

The anchoring assembly B includes the housing 39, the upper expander member 34, "the lower expander member 40 and the gripping elements 41. Plug member 42 is secured by the breech-lock arrangement, as hereinafter set forth, to the upper portion of housing 39. Also, plug member 42 is releasably secured toupper expander 34 by releasable connecting means, such as shear pins 43. Snap ring 34a is positioned in a groove on the exterior of lower mandrel 10b and, with the members positioned as shown in FIGURE 1, provides support for the upper expander 34. The lower end of the housing 39 is releasably attached to lower expander 40 by the shear pins 44. In the sectional portion of the figures, shear pin 44 is illustrated in dashed lines to clarify its connection of lower expander 40' to housing 39. The shear pins 44 must be offset from below alignment with the gripping elements 41 to properly engage lower expander 40. The extreme lower portion of housing 39 is provided with an inset 45 receiving the upper end of sleeve member 46 which is releasably secured to the housing 39 by the shear pins 47. The lower end of sleeve 46 is secured in the ring 48 by plurality of fastening means 49 and suitable seal 50 provides a seal between the exterior surface of ring 48 and the interior surface of sleeve 46. The ring 48 is secured on the exterior of lower mandrel 18b by the lower abutment 51 which is maintained in its position by the snap rings 52 and 53 positioned in grooves on the exterior of lower mandrel 10b. The seal 54, such as an O- ring seal, seals between the exterior surface of lower mandrellti'b and the interior surface of the ring 48. Snap ring 55 engages the ring 48 and thereby renders the ring 48 immovable with respect to the lower mandrel 1%.

A plurality of ports 56 are provided in lower mandrel 10b immediately above the upper surface of the ring 48 into the pressure chamber 57. Annular piston element 58 is positioned for movement within sleeve 46,- and sleeve piston 59 is positioned between lower mandrel 18b and annular piston element 58. Both piston element 58 and sleeve piston 59 are exposed at their lower ends to the pressure within pressure chamber. 57. The seal 60 is provided on the exterior of annular piston 58 to seal against the interior of the sleeve 46, and sleeve piston 5-9 is provided with the seals 61 and 62 to seal against the interior of annular piston 58 and against the exterior of lower mandrel 10b, respectively. It should be noted that annular piston 58 engages lower expander 40 in a breech-lock connection which is hereinafter more fully explained. The locking member 63 is positioned 'immediately above sleeve piston 59 and is provided with an exterior upwardly inwardly sloping surface 64 and engaging the inner surface 65 of lower expander 48 and a ribbed or gripping surface on its interior for engagement with the exterior of the lower mandrel 1012.

As may be seen from the foregoing, the pressure actuated means D includes the sleeve 46 which is secured to the ring 48 forming an annular chamber surrounding lower mandrel 10b, in which the annnular piston 58 and sleeve piston 5-9 may be responsive to the pressure in the pressure chamber 57. During the running in of the well tool in the pipe P, the latching means or shear pins 47, 44 and 43 will maintain the device as shown in FIGURE 1 and will prevent movement of the pistons 58 and 59 responsive to the hydrostatic pressure in the well. With the well tool of the present invention positioned as shown in FIGURE 1, it will be positioned in the tubing string and run into the pipe (casing) P downwardly to the elevation at which the apparatus is to be set. -In this position, the gripping elements 41 and the seal elements 29 and 30 are in retracted posit-ion.

Upon reaching the elevationat which the apparatus is tobe set, additional pressure is applied to the tubing string. This pressure may be applied in any suitable manner from the surface. Normally the portion of the tubing string below the device will include some means to form a closure which may be closed by dropping and landing a setting plug therein, allowing pressure applied to the upper portion of the tubing string to be contained within the tubing string. The pressure within the tubing string will be conducted through the ports 5-5 into the pressure chamber 57. Since the ring 48 is fixedly secured to the exterior of the lower mandrel b, such pressure will tend to move annular piston 58 in sleeve piston 59 upwardly. -It should be noted that sufiicient pressure must be applied to initially shear the shear pins 47 whereby the upward movement of the pistons 58 and 59 will cause the anchoring assembly B to move upwardly, which movement will be transmitted to the sealing assembly A, causing the seal-ing elements 29 and 32 to be moved to their extended sealing position as shown in FIGURE 2. This upward movement of the anchoring assembly B without relative movement of the components of the anchoring assembly B is possible since the upper expander 34 and the lower expander 40 are secured by the shear pins 43 and 44, respectively, to the housing 39. The upward movement of the anchoring assembly B will be transmitted by upper expander 34 to cage 33 which will effect a setting of the sealing assembly A. Since cage 25 is stationary, as cage 33 moves upwardly it will compress and set the sealing assembly A between the lower surface 28 of cage 25 and the upper surface 32 of cage 33. The slopes on the sides of follower 31 will cause the sealing elements to move outwardly into set position against the interior of pipe P.

Sealing assembly A is constructed so that when it is moved to a set position, it will withstand pressures from either above or below. For example, assuming a greater pressure below sealing assembly A than above, this pressure may bypass sealing element 30, but, because of the cup-shape of sealing element 29 when set, will force the sealing element 29 into tighter engagement with the interior of the pipe P. Also, a greater pressure from above will force sealing element 30 into tighter engagement with the interior of the pipe P. The sealing elements 29 and 30, when set, act as sea-ling cups to seal pressures from above and below the sealing assembly A.

When the sealing assembly A has been set as shown in FIGURE 2, the pressure contained within pressure chamber 57 will still be exerted on the annular piston 58 and the sleeve piston 59. In set position, the sealing assembly A will provide sufiicient resistance to further upward movement of anchoring assembly B whereby the shear pin 43 will be sheared by the force resulting from the pressure in chamber 57. The shearing of shear pin 43 will allow relative movement of the housing 39 with respect to the upper expander 34 and the gripping elements 41, by contact with the exterior sloping surface of the upper expander 34, will be moved outwardly to the position illustrated in FIGURE 3. During this time the lower expander 40 is secured against relative movement with respect to the housing 39 and the gripping elements 41 by the shear pins 44. When the upward movement of the pressure actuated means D is as shown in FIGURE 3, further upward movement of the anchoring assembly housing 39 and the gripping elements 41 will be prevented by engagement of the teeth of the gripping elements 41 with the interior of pipe P. Thereafter, the force on annular piston 58 resulting from the pressure in the pressure chamber 57 will be sufficient to shear the shear pins 44 and to move lower expander 40 upwardly under the gripping elements 41 to the position as illustrated in FIGURE 4. Thereafter, the pressure will cause the sleeve piston 59 to move upwardly with respect to annular piston 58 to urge locking member 6 3 upwardly under lower expander 40. Because of the slope of the surface 65 under lower expander 40 and the slope of the surface 64 on the exterior of the locking member 63, this upward movement Will cause the locking member 63 to be wedged inwardly against the exterior of lower mandrel 10b thereby locking the sealing assembly A and anchoring assembly B in 3 set position as illustrated in FIGURE 4. The teeth on the interior of locking member 63 are designed to allow upward movement with respect to the lower mandrel 10b but prevent any downward movement thereof.

It can be seen that the initial pressure is sufiicient to create a force shearing the shear pin 47 to initially set the sealing assembly A, thereafter, to shear the shear pin 43 to effect a partial setting of the anchoring assembly B with respect to the upper expander 34 and, then, to shear the shear pins 44 allowing the lower expander 42 to complete the movement of the gripping elements 41 into pipe gripping position, illustrated in FIGURE 4. Thus, the action of the pressure actuated means D performs the sequential setting first of the sealing assembly A and thereafter the setting of the anchoring assembly B by control of the relative strength of the shear pins 47, 43 and 44 whereby shear pins 47 will initially shear; then the shear pins 43 will shear and thereafter the shear pins 44 will shear allowing the completion of the setting of the device. In actual operation the setting will be accomplished in one rapid, smooth motion of the pressure actuated means D.

With the completion of the setting action of the anchoring assembly B, the pressure in pressure chamber 57 will cause sleeve piston 59 to move upwardly, moving locking member 63 under lower expander 40 and into locked engagement with the exterior of lower mandrel 10b whereby lower expander 40 is secured from downward movement relative to lower mandrel 10b. With lower expander 40 secured, both sealing assembly A and anchoring assembly B will be maintained in set position until positively released. The fluid pressure applied to the tubing string to set the device may be released with no danger of causing a release of either sealing assembly A or anchoring assembly B. Further, the actuation of piston sleeve 59 will be readily actuated by the fluid pressure within pressure chamber 57 because of the relatively small friction achieved. This low friction of sleeve piston 59 results from the thin shape of piston 59.

When it is desired to release the well tool, it is only necessary to rotate the tubing string to the right at the surface. This will roate the upper mandrel 10a which will move upwardly with respect to the lower mandrel 1% because of the threads 12 and 13 forming a connection therebetween. The lower mandrel 10b will be held stationary by the set position of the anchoring assembly and therefore will allow the upper mandrel 16a to be moved upwardly with respect to lower mandrel 10b. This upward movement will initially move only the 1 bearing 18 in the upper mandrel in an upwardly direction with the sealing assembly A being maintained in set position until the sleeve 20 becomes disengaged from the bearing 18. At such time there will be an equalization of pressures from above and below the sealing assembly A through the annular space between the interior of the sleeve 20 and the exterior of the upper mandrel 10a and outwardly through the ports 23 in the lower portion of the sleeve 20 and the ports 37 which extend through the upper expander 34. This balancing of pressures across sealing assembly A prevents a differential pressure from urging one of the sealing elements 29 or 30 into sealing engagement with the interior of pipe P when it is desired to unset sealing assembly A.

With the pressures balanced across the sealing assembly A, a continued upward movement of the upper mandrel 10a will cause the engagement of the sleeve 20 on the shoulder 22 and thereafter move the sleeve 20 upwardly, allowing a complete relaxation and unsetting of the sealing assembly A since upward movement of the sleeve 20 will cause plug 24 and cage 25 to move upwardly. When the upper seal element 29 has been relaxed, the follower 31 will be engaged by the ring 38 to move it upwardly with respect to the pipe P allowing the lower seal element 30 to relax and retract to the position illustrated in FIGURE 5. Continued upward movement of the mandrel 10a in the sleeve will cause the shoulder 35 on the lower exterior of the sleeve 20 to engage the cage 33 and to move upper expander 34 upwardly from under the gripping elements 41 to the position where a shoulder on the exterior of the upper expander 34 will engage the plugmember 42 thereby stopping continued upward movement of the sleeve '20 and upper mandrel 10a. The continued rotation of the tubing string will thereafter cause the lower -mandrel 10b to move'downwardly to the position where the snap ring 34a on the exterior of lower mandrel 10b will engage the locking member 63. Since locking member 63 abuts the sleeve piston 59, piston 59 will be moved downwardly into engagement with the inner shoulder 67 of the annular piston 58 whereby annular piston 58 will be moved downwardly with respect to the housing 39 and gripping elements 41. Because of the connection between the annular piston 58 and the lower expander 40, this movement of piston 58 will move lower expander 40 downwardly removing the. expander 40 from under the gripping elements 41 and releasing the gripping elements 41 from their pipe gripping position against the interior of the pipe P.

The .plug and cage vor breech-lock assembly, hereinbefore mentioned as joining component parts of the device, are more clearly illustrated in FIGURES 7 through 16. Each of these joints is composed of three members: the plug member 67, as illustrated in FIGURE 12; the cage member 68, illustrated in FIGURE 13; and the key member 69, illustrated in FIGURE 14. The purpose of this assembly is to provide a readily releasable connection between two generally cylindrical members in which the members are connected to prevent relative longitudinal movement and also locked preventing relative rotational movement of the members with respect to eachother.

The plug member 67, as best seen in FIGURE 12, is

provided with. the spaced projections 70 extending out-'- wardly around the lower periphery. Four of the projections 70 are provided on plug member 67. Projections 70 cooperate with the inwardly extending spaced projections 71 on the cage member 68 whereby the plug member 67 may be inserted within the cage member68. During insertion, the projections 70 will pass through the 7 spaces between the projections 71, and the projections 71 will pass through the spaces between the projections 70." The interior of the cage 681s provided with a shoulder 72 which prevents the further downward move-.

to a position where the projections 70 are beneath the projections 71,-as shown in FIGURES 9 and 15. In this position the recess 74 in the upper portion of the plug member 67 will be'in registry with a space between the projections 71 on the cage member 38, and the key 69 may be inserted to the-position as illustrated in FIG'-- URES 8, 10 and 16. The key member 69 is provided with an upper! central detent portion 75 which engages the opening 76 in the plug member 69 to lock the key member 69 in position. With key member 69 in position the breech-lock connection is completed and relative rotation between the plug member 67 andthe cage member. 68 is prevented.

Thus, the breech-lock connection of the cage,-plug and key members provides a connection which will secure two members to each other preventing both longitudinaland rotational movement of the members which is particularly advantageous in a device such as the device of the present invention, wherein it is desired to rotate the upper mandrel 10a'with respect to lower mandrel 10b. In the past a threaded connection has beenused for similar well tools but such threaded connections may, it right hand threads are used for release, unthreaded and could prevent the proper release of the device.

As shown and described, the apparatus is a well packer apparatus. Howver, it may be employed as an anchor tool merely by omitting sealing elements 29 and 30 and follower 31. When such sealing elements are omitted, the upper mandrel 10a may be directly connected or made integral with upper expander 34. The operation would be as described with respect to setting gripping slips 41 to anchor the device against movement in both directions within the well.

The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention are illustrative and explanatory thereof and various changes in the size, shape and materials, as well as in the details of the illustrated construction, may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a well tool adapted to be set in a well pipe including,

a tubular support comprising an upper mandrel and a lower mandrel,

a releasable connection between said upper mandrel and said lower mandrel preventing longitudinal movement between said upper and said lower mandrels,

an anchoring assembly encircling the support and comprising a housing, an upper expander, a lower expander spaced therebelow, and gripping members spaced about and co-acting with the expanders,

movement of the expanders toward each other expanding the gripping members into pipe-gripping position and movement of the expanders away from each other allowing said gripping members to retract from pipe-gripping position,

an abutment secured to said tubular support,

pressure-actuated means on said tubular support and having two parts movable longitudinally relative to each other, one part being attached to said tubular support and the other part 'being attached to one of said expanders, said one part also being releasably attached to the anchoring assembly housing,

said anchoring assembly housing being releasably attached to said upper expander and releasably attached to said lower expander,

movement of said parts of said pressure-actuated means in one direction effecting release of said one part from said housing to move said anchoring assembly against said abutment and movement of said parts in said one direction thereafter effecting release of said housing from said expanders and effecting a relative movement of the expanders in a direction to move the upper and lower expanders with respect to each other to thereby urge the gripping members into pipe-gripping position, and

means for conducting a pressure fluid to the parts of the pressure-actuated means to move the parts thereof in that direction which urges the gripping members into pipe-gripping position.

2. A well tool as set forth in claim 1, wherein rotation of said upper mandrel relative to said lower mandrel actuates said releasable connection to move said upper mandrel upwardly and said lower mandrel downwardly,

means on said upper mandrel whereby upward movement of said upper mandrel moves said upper expander upwardly from under said gripping members, and

means, on said lower mandrel whereby downward movement of said lower mandrel moves said lower expander downwardly from under said gripping members allowing said gripping members to retract from pipe-gripping position.

3. A well tool as set forth in claim 1, together with a sealing assembly comprising an upper sealing ele- 9 ment, a lower sealing element and a sealing assembly follower,

said sealing assembly being positioned in surrounding relationship to said tubular support between said abutment and said anchoring assembly whereby said initial movement of said parts of said pressure-actuated means in said one direction urging said anchoring assembly toward said abutment applies endwise force to said sealing elements to deform the same into sealing position before said gripping members have moved into pipe-gripping position.

4. A well tool as set forth in claim 3 wherein rotation of said upper mandrel relative to said lower mandrel actuates said releasable connection to open a pressure equalizing connection across said sealing assembly, to thereafter move said abutment away from said anchoring assembly whereby said sealing assembly is unset and to thereafter move said expanders with respect to each other from under said gripping members whereby said gripping members may retract from pipe-gripping position.

5. A well tool as set forth in claim 1, together with a second pressure-actuated means having a part movable relative to said other part of said pressure-actuated means, and

locking means for locking one of said expanders with respect to said tubular support,

movement of said part of said second pressure-actuated means responsive to the pressure fiuid conducted to said pressure-actuated means whereby said locking means locks said one expander with respect to said tubular support after said expanders have moved said gripping members to pipe-gripping position to lock said gripping members in said pipe-gripping position.

6. In a Well tool adapted to be set in a well pipe includa tubular support comprising an upper mandrel and a lower mandrel,

a releasable connection between said upper mandrel and said lower mandrel preventing longitudinal movement between the upper and lower mandrels,

an anchoring assembly encircling the support and comprising a housing, an upper expander, a lower expander spaced therebelow, and gripping members spaced about and co-acting with the expanders,

movement of the expanders toward each other expanding the gripping members into pipe-gripping position and movement of the expanders away from each other allowing said gripping members to retract from pipe-grippin g position,

pressure-actuated means on said lower mandrel below said lower expander and having two parts movable longitudinally relative to each other, one part being attached to said lower mandrel and the second part being attached to the lower expander, said one part also being releasably attached to the anchoring assembly housing,

said anchor assembly housing being releasably attached to said upper expander and releasably attached to said lower expander,

an abutment,

a sealing assembly,

movement of said parts of said pressure-actuated means first releasing the attachment between said one part and said anchoring assembly housing whereby said anchoring assembly is moved upwardly against said sealing assembly compressing said sealing assembly against said abutment outwardly into pipe-sealing position,

further movement of said parts of said.pressure-actuated means secondly releasing the attachment between said upper expander and said anchoring assembly housing whereby said gripping members are moved outwardly on said upper expander,

10 further movement of said parts of said pressure-actuated means thereafter releasing the attachment between said lower expander and said anchoring assembly housing whereby said lower expander is moved under said gripping members, moving said gripping members outwardly into pipe-gripping position, and means for conducting a pressure fluid to the parts of the pressure-actuated means to move the parts thereof in that direction which urges the gripping members into pipe-gripping position. 7. A well tool as set forth in claim 6, wherein rotation of said upper mandrel relative to said lower mandrel actuates said releasable connection to move said upper mandrel upwardly and said lower mandrel downwardly,

means on said upper mandrel whereby upward movement of said upper mandrel moves said upper expander upwardly from under said gripping members, and

means on said lower mandrel whereby downward movement of said lower mandrel moves said lower expander downwardly from under said gripping members allowing said gripping members to retract from pipe-gripping position.

8. A well tool as set forth in claim 6 wherein rotation of said upper mandrel relative to said lower mandrel actuates said releasable connection to open a pressure equalizing connection across said sealing assembly, to thereafter move said abutment away from said anchoring assembly whereby said sealing assembly is unset and to thereafter move said expanders with respect to each other from under said gripping members whereby said gripping members may retract from pipe-gripping position.

9. A well tool as set forth in claim 6, together with a second pressure-actuated means having a part movable relative to said other part of said pressure-actuated means, and

locking means for locking one of said expanders with respect to said tubular support,

movement of said part of said second pressure-actuated means responsive to the pressure fluid conducted to said pressure-actuated means whereby said locking means locks said one expander with respect to said tubular support after said expanders have moved said gripping members to pipe-gripping position to lock said gripping members in said pipe-gripping position.

10. In a well tool adapted to be set in a well pipe including,

a tubular support comprising an upper mandrel and a lower mandrel,

a first releasable connection between said upper mandrel and said lower mandrel preventing longitudinal movement between said upper mandrel and said lower mandrel,

an anchoring assembly encircling the support and comprising a housing, an upper expander, a lower expander spaced therebelow, and gripping members spaced about and co-acting with said expanders,

movement of the expanders toward each other expanding the gripping members into pipe-gripping position and movement of the expanders away from each other retracting said gripping members,

pressure-actuated means on said tubular support and having two parts movable longitudinally relative to each other, one part being attached to said support and the other part being attached to said anchoring assembly,

a first latching means between said one part and said other part,

a second latching means between said anchoring assembly housing and one of said expanders,

said first latching means being releasable by a predetermined pressure applied to said pressure-actuated means,

said second latching means being releasable by a predetermined pressure applied to said pressure-actuated .means, the pressure necessary to release said second latching means being greater than the pressure necessary to release said first latching means, an abutment secured to said tubular support, and

means conducting a pressure fluid to the parts of the pressure-actuated .meansto move the parts thereof in that direction which urges the gripping members into gripping position, movement of said parts of said pressure-actuated means first releasing said first latching mean-s whereby said anchoring assembly is moved against said abutment, further movement of said parts of said pressure actuated mean-s thereafter releasing saidsecond latching means whereby said gripping members are moved outwardly on said expanders into pipe-gripping position.

, V 11. In a well tool adapted to be set in a-well pipe in including,

a tubular support comprising an upper mandrel and a lower mandrel, f I

said upper mandrel and said lower mandrel. being threadedly connected,

an upper abutment on said upper'mandrel,

a sleeve surrounding said upper mandrel and movable longitudinally with respect'to said upper mandrel,

a movable abutment on said sleeve below said sealing v assembly, an anchoringfassembly encircling the support below said sealing assembly; andcomprising a housing, an

upper expander, a lower expander spaced therebelow, and gripping members spaced about and coacting with'the expanders,

' movement of the expanderstoward eachiothe'r expanding the gripping members into pipe-gripping position and-movementiofjthe'expanders away from each other allowing said gripping members to retract from pipe-gripping position, 7

said movable abutment being secured to said upper expander, pressure-actuated means on; said lower mandrel below said anchoring assembly andhaving two parts movable longitudinally relative to each other, one. part being" attached to said lower mandrel and the other part being-attached to said lower expander, saidone part also being releasably attached to the anchoring assembly housing, 7

said anchoring' assembly housing being releasably at tached tosaid'upper expander and releasably'attached to said lower expander,

movement of said parts of said pressure-actuated'means in'one direction effecting release of said one part I a direction to move the upper and lower expanders with respect to each other to ,thereby'urge the grip,

ping members into pipe-gripping position, and. means for conducting a pressure fluid to the parts of i the pressure-actuated means to move the parts there- 12 of in that direction which moves said sealing assembly to set position and urges the gripping members into pipe-gripping position.

12. A well tool as set forth in claim 11, wherein rotation of said upper mandrel relative to said lower mandrel actuates said threaded connection therebetween to move said upper mandrel upwardly and said lower mandrel downwardly,

upward movement of said upper mandrel moving said sleeve and said upper abutment upwardly until said sealing assembly has moved to unset position and to thereafter. move said upper expander upwardly from under said gripping members,

downward movement of said lower mandrel moving said lower expander downwardly from under said gripping members whereby when both said upper and lower expanders are moved from under said gripping members, said gripping members may retract from pipe-gripping position.

13. A well tool as set forth in claim 11, wherein rotation of said upper mandrel relative to said lower mandrel actuates said threaded connection therebetween to move said upper mandrel upwardly and said lower mandrel downwardly,

said sleeve being spaced radially from said upper mandrel whereby initial upward movement of said upper mandrel opens the space between said sleeve and said upper mandrel to the upper exterior of said device,

said sleeve being provided withports inits lower portion whereby when said mandrel initially moves upwardly a passageway through the space between said sleeve and said upper mandrel is opened and the pressure above and below said sealing assembly is equalized, 7

further upward movement of said upper mandrel upwardly moving said upper abutment upwardly allowing said sealing assembly to become unset,

further upward movement of said upper mandrel and downward movement of said lower mandrel moving said upper and lower expanders away from each other whereby said gripping members may retract from pipe-gripping position.

14. A well tool as set forth in claim 10, wherein'rotation of said upper mandrel relative to. said lower mandrel actuates said first releasable connection to move said upper mandrel upwardly and said lower mandrel downwardly,

means connecting said upper mandrel to said upper expander, and

means connecting said lower mandrel to said lower expander whereby movement of said lower mandrel downwardly withdraws said lower expander from' under said gripping members and movement of said upper mandrel upwardly withdraws said upper expander from under said gripping members and thereby allowing said gripping members to retract from pipe-gripping position.

References Cited by the Examiner CHARLES E. OCONNELL, Primary Examiner,

J, A, LEPPINK, Assistant Examiner, 

1. IN A WELL TOOL ADAPTED TO BE SET IN A WELL PIPE IN CLUDING, A TUBULAR SUPPORT COMPRISING AN UPPER MANDREL AND A LOWER MANDREL, A RELEASABLE CONNECTION BETWEEN SAID UPPER MANDREL AND SAID LOWER MANDREL PREVENTING LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT BETWEEN SAID UPPER AND SAID LOWER MANDRELS, AN ANCHORING ASSEMBLY ENCIRCLING THE SUPPORT AND COMPRISING A HOUSING, AN UPPER EXPANDER, A LOWER EXPANDER SPACED THEREBELOW, AND GRIPPING MEMBERS SPACED ABOUT AND CO-ACTING WITH THE EXPANDERS, MOVEMENT OF THE EXPANDERS TOWARD EACH OTHER EXPANDING THE GRIPPING MEMBERS INTO PIPE-GRIPPING POSITION AND MOVEMENT OF THE EXPANDERS AWAY FROM EACH OTHER ALLOWING SAID GRIPPING MEMBERS TO RETRACT FROM PIPE-GRIPPING POSITION, AN ABUTMENT SECURED TO SAID TUBULAR SUPPORT, PRESSURE-ACTUATED MEANS ON SAID TUBULAR SUPPORT AND HAVING TWO PARTS MOVABLE LONGITUDINALLY RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER, ONE PART BEING ATTACHED TO SAID TUBULAR SUPPORT AND THE OTHER PART BEING ATTACHED TO ONE OF SAID EXPANDERS, SAID ONE PART ALSO BEING RELEASABLY ATTACHED TO THE ANCHORING ASSEMBLY HOUSING, SAID ANCHORING ASSEMBLY HOUSING BEING RELEASABLY ATTACHED TO SAID UPPER EXPANDER AND RELEASABLY ATTACHED TO SAID LOWER EXPANDER, 